The first and most bizarre event nearly becomes a monumental catastrophe when something goes awry at an American theme park, wreaking havoc on visitors looking for nothing more than a sun-splashed holiday. In a different part of the country, a USAF F-15 pilot, escorting another jet in the skies over the Midwest, inexplicably loses control of his plane, endangering the lives of several people and deeply puzzling those following his mission on the ground.

Warlord: An Alex Hawke Thriller

Alex Hawke has all but given up on life. The British-American MI6 counterterrorism operative lost the woman he loved almost a year ago and has sought refuge at the bottom of a rum bottle ever since. But late one night at his home on Bermuda, he receives a wake-up call... literally. His Royal Highness Prince Charles, an old friend, desperately needs his help. The prince has discovered a not-so-subtle threat directed toward the British royal family.

Warriors: An Alex Hawke Novel, Book 8

On the streets of Washington, D.C., a brilliant scientist, the brains behind a revolutionary fighter aircraft prototype in development by the Pentagon, is snatched by masked thugs and disappears. Now five years later, an elderly professor at Cambridge University has been murdered, a victim of bizarre, ancient Chinese torture. Alex Hawke teams up with Scotland Yard former Chief Inspector Ambrose Congreve to find the killer, but this death is merely the opening gambit in a tense and lethal game of geopolitical brinksmanship.

Tsar: An Alex Hawke Thriller

Russia gains a new tsar, a signal to the world that the imperial Russia is back and plans to have her day. In America, a killer known only as Happy the Baker brutally murders an innocent family and literally flattens the small Midwestern town they once called home. Just a taste, according to the new tsar, of what will happen if America does not back down. Alex Hawke is the only man who can stop the madness.

Pirate: An Alex Hawke Thriller

In Paris, a ruthless descendant of Napoleon has risen to power, hell-bent on restoring France's former glory. His fiery ambitions are cynically stoked by a coterie of cold-blooded Mandarins, plotting behind the gates of Beijing's Forbidden City. Cloaked in secrecy, this unholy alliance devises a twisted global plan, backed by China's growing nuclear arsenal, that will send America and the world to the brink of a gut-wrenching showdown.

Assassin: An Alex Hawke Thriller

A shadowy figure known as the Dog is believed to be the ruthless terrorist who is systematically and savagely assassinating American diplomats and their families around the globe. As the deadly toll mounts inexorably, Hawke, along with former NYPD cop and Navy SEAL Stokely Jones, is called upon by the U.S. government to launch a search for the assassin behind the murders.

Spy: An Alex Hawke Thriller

On assignment for the British Secret Service, a man leads a mysterious expedition into the heart of darkness. Sailing up the furthest reaches of the Amazon River, he is captured by a brutal tribe of indigenous cannibals. Forced into slave labor, he witnesses the unimaginable.

The Insider Threat: A Pike Logan Thriller

ISIS, the most maniacal terrorist organization the modern world has ever seen, is poised to make their most audacious strike yet. The United States has anticipated and averted countless attacks from terrorist groups - thanks in large part to the extralegal counterterrorist unit known as the Taskforce. But in The Insider Threat, a much more insidious evil is about to shatter the false sense of safety surrounding civilized nations.

Dead Shot

In this follow-up to the highly successful Kill Zone, former marine sniper Kyle Swanson faces his most deadly enemy yet, a legendary enemy sniper working with a fringe Islamic organization that has created a terrifying new weapon of mass destruction.

Patriot: An Alex Hawke Novel

In corrupt Russia, an erratic Vladimir Putin is determined to forge his country into a formidable superpower once again. He intends to redraw the map of Europe, and will go to impossible extremes to realize his fantasies - including shooting down a civilian airliner packed with tourists bound for China. Kremlin scientists have developed a radical new weapon that could forever alter modern warfare.

Code of Conduct: A Thriller

Hidden deep within one of the world’s most powerful organizations is a secret committee with a devastating agenda. Its members are afforded incredible protections—considered elites, untouchables. But when four seconds of video is captured halfway around the world and anonymously transmitted to DC, covert wheels are set in motion, and counterterrorism operative Scot Harvath is tapped to undertake the deadliest assignment of his career.

No Fortunate Son

When veteran operator Pike Logan and partner Jennifer Cahill receive a letter from Blaisdell Consulting - the umbrella cover company for their real employer, a top secret counterterrorist unit called the Taskforce - they expect orders for their next mission-impossible tasking. Instead, they learn that their latest actions have gotten them fired, despite having saved thousands of innocent lives. Pike's shock and fury is redirected when their commander Colonel Kurt Hale asks him and Jennifer for help with a personal matter.

Act of War: A Thriller

After a CIA agent mysteriously dies overseas, his top asset surfaces with a startling and terrifying claim. There’s just one problem - no one knows if she can be trusted. But when six exchange students go missing, two airplane passengers trade places, and one political-asylum seeker is arrested, a deadly chain of events is set in motion.

Independence Day: A Dewey Andreas Novel

Dewey Andreas, former Delta and current intelligence agent, is sidelined. Still drowning in grief after the tragic murder of his fiancee, Dewey has seemingly lost his focus, his edge, and the confidence of his superiors. A high-level Russian hacker, known only as Cloud, is believed to be behind a series of major terror operations, and the mission is to capture and render Cloud harmless. At the same time, a backup team is sent after the only known associate of Cloud, a ballerina believed to be his girlfriend.

Against All Enemies

Jonathan Grave finds it hard to believe that a fellow combat vet has gone rogue, killing American agents and leaking sensitive intel to hostile foreign interests. With black ops assassins on the trail of his old friend, Grave sets out to get to him first. He finds far more than he bargained for. Not only the wily operative but evidence of a conspiracy so dangerous, so far reaching, that an unthinkable tragedy is in motion. Grave and his elite team of specialists must expose a deadly high-level secret - and do it in time to avert a catastrophe of historic proportions.

Twelve Days: John Wells, Book 9

Wells, with his former CIA bosses Ellis Shafer and Vinnie Duto, has uncovered a staggering plot, a false-flag operation to convince the President to attack Iran. But they have no hard evidence, and no one at Langley or the White House will listen. Now the President has set a deadline for Iran to give up its nuclear program, and the mullahs in Tehran - furious and frightened - have responded with a deadly terrorist attack. Wells, Shafer, and Duto know they have only twelve days to find the proof they need.

Tom Clancy Under Fire

On a routine intelligence gathering mission in Tehran, Jack Ryan, Jr., has lunch with his oldest friend, Seth Gregory: an engineer overseeing a transcontinental railway project. As they part, Seth slips Jack a key, along with a perplexing message.

Gabriel: Only One Gets out Alive

In 2013, terrorists struck the Chicago Marathon. It took more than just people; it took their peace of mind and security for the entire country. For Jacob August it took his entire family. After the bombing his life was changed forever. Abandoning his parents' dreams of his education at medical school, he became America's most deadly CIA assassin.

Days of Rage: A Pike Logan Thriller, Book 6

Former Delta Force operative Brad Taylor brings his military expertise to bear in the New York Times best-selling Pike Logan series. In Days of Rage, Russia takes aim at the Taskforce by supplying extremists in Nigeria with a weapon of mass destruction. With time running out, Pike races to unravel a Cold War-era mystery and stop a plot aimed at killing millions.

Publisher's Summary

The first and most bizarre event nearly becomes a monumental catastrophe when something goes awry at an American theme park, wreaking havoc on visitors looking for nothing more than a sun-splashed holiday.

In a different part of the country, a USAF F-15 pilot, escorting another jet in the skies over the Midwest, inexplicably loses control of his plane, endangering the lives of several people and deeply puzzling those following his mission on the ground.

Then, in the misty calm of a coastal California evening, the world’s premier scientist on the subject of artificial intelligence gets a strange phone call. When he hangs up, he quietly grabs his coat and leaves for an after-dinner stroll from which he never returns.

It’s up to Hawke and the brilliant former inspector Ambrose Congreve to find out what could possibly be happening. But how does one identify—and fight—an enemy one can’t see, a real phantom? Even these seasoned operatives are mystified. Is there really such a thing as an ultra-intelligent machine, a cyberweapon that can shift the geopolitical balance of power?

In a hunt that takes him from Palo Alto, California, to the Russian frontier, to Cambridge University and the glistening Mediterranean aboard his newly christened and armed super-yacht Blackhawke, Alex Hawke is joined by the unstoppable Stokely Jones and his ex-CIA buddy Harry Brock. As he moves closer to unmasking the scientist behind these extraordinary events, he goes nose-to-nose with an enemy unlike any he’s fought before—and may never again.

I found the plot of this book extraordinarily unbelievable. Yes, I realize it is fiction. But, I really don't think artificial intelligence is anywhere near the capabilities described. The story, based on the improbably AI gone amok premise is very hard to get in to. I listened to the entire novel but frankly, couldn't wait for it to end. The narration is terrible and sleep inducing. Don't recommend this one.

A big big disappointment here. Frankly, while I am used to and generally enjoy Ted Bell's vivid descriptions and clever plots, this one is too far out there to put me in the edge of my seat wanting more.

I think this is Ted Bell's best book yet. Alex has become more arrogant and a bit pompus, even for an elite Brit character. He has absolutely no qualms about killing or being the bad guy, but is a pussycat with now having a family! It is a very interesting mix. I loved every minute and the narration was again superb. John Shea is the perfect narrator for this series. I'd like to listen to more of his books. Don't pass this one up if you like thrillers!!It is excellent :-)

The artificial intelligence (Perseus) points out that Hawke is a warrior with empathy. That phrase provides all of the insight you need into the story dynamics. Bell is a good writer, he just needs a little editorial guidance.

Intrigue and suspense a very well thought out story, A great midwinter action novelfor those long hours of interior living. Ted Bell keeps this rollercoaster rolling by plotting steadfast and headlong into one action unto another, While John Shea's performance articulates the total drama of each written word, the novels imagery comes to life.

All of Hawke books are kinda cliché & although he may have some cool toys no one beats the original bond, especially when the character involved is based off of him!? This particular book brings a bit of a twist but many books it seems have been using a technology based Armageddon as part of the draw... for Bell's book this makes this book a bit better compared to all the other ones which are entertaining if your into the 'good guy' winning all the time with incredible weapons & wealth beyond economic imagination then these books are for u

Overall though, thru all the books I find his supporting characters to be much more enjoyable to hear then Hawke himself... like Stokley Jones for sure, Congrieve (wanna be Sherlock who worked for Scotland yard), & Brock who is the USA's CIA NOC. Without them the books would not have the same appeal. Some books have great supporting characters in this case he NEEDs the characters to help create a better story

I use all of Bell's books as a substitute for Bond now because that's basically what it is, except Bond was ALL about Queen & England while there is more of an international taste to all the stories, I might be forgetting about an Israeli team member but I read one of the funnier things another critic wrote & that was about one of Bells earlier books, I think it was is 'Warlord' or 'Spy' but when he beats up a professional sumo wrestler.... um... yeaaaa, its parts like that which keep Bell in the entertaining, candy isle instead of moving anywhere near a work of art/Novel category... fun, just fun. As usual though the Narrator 'Shea' who only has a handful of books he's done is fantastic & wish he was used for more books

Yes - presents aspects of Alex Hawke that weren't revealed until a unique part of his past catches him by surprise! The story combines today's technology with ancient fears and grudges as Alex, once again, must save us from destruction.

What about John Shea’s performance did you like?

Loved the accents, the cadence and the timbre of his voice. Felt it added to the vibrancy of the story.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Was surprised by an unexpected revelation and the impact it has on Alex Hawke.

Any additional comments?

Great addition to the series, one of the most evenly paced action thrillers I have enjoyed in a long time!

No. Hate to listen to ANY book more than once. Ther are too many books I have NOT listened too even though I have listened to ove 1800 books in the last 25 years (have a list of every single one). Nothing I hated more than to get an hour into a book and discover I had already heard it. Therefore, I started an alphabetical list.

What did you like best about this story?

Action packed

What about John Shea’s performance did you like?

Great performance by John

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Where does Phantom rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I've been a Ted Bell fan for quite a while now and I've read all the Alex Hawke novels. They are all kind of "over-the-top" far-fetched in some ways, but hey that's part of the fun of this series. Phantom is no different and is exactly what you would come to expect from this series. I think Bell addresses the important issue of cyber-security in this novel, although working in the information security field myself, I found some of the logic regarding the main antogonist a little hard to swallow. But setting this aside, I thoroughly enjoyed the book as I have the others in this series.

What did you like best about this story?

I think what I liked best is Bell's attempt to address an important not to mention very real threat of the day, cyber-security.

Which character – as performed by John Shea – was your favorite?

First, I can't say enough good things about John Shea. He is one of my favorite performers, absolutely grade A fabulous. I love how he performs all the characters, but I especially like Stokely Jones.

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